Carquinez Strait Scenic Drive Information
Access to the Bull Valley Staging Area on the Carquinez Scenic Drive:
This staging area can be reached directly from a parking area off Carquinez Scenic Drive. From the east or south, take Hwy. 4 and McEwen Road, turning left onto Carquinez Scenic Drive. The staging area, shown here, is on the right. It is followed by an access road to a picnic area. (Carquinez Scenic Drive is closed between McEwen Rd. and Martinez.) If traveling from the north or west, exit off I-80 to Crockett and make your way along the shoreline roads east to Carquinez Scenic Drive and the staging area.
Access to the Nejedly Staging Area on the Carquinez Shoreline Scenic Drive:
This staging area can be reached from Martinez. Turn onto Escobar or Marina Vista and head west from the central Martinez Area. Turn right onto the road, and look for the staging area, shown here, on the left side of the road.
There is plenty of parking.
The Carquinez Scenic Drive climbs gradually to superb views of the Martinez Marsh and Benicia-Martinez Bridge. Each curve brings a view which is more expansive than the last.
The waterfront below the Drive is obviously a working waterfront, with barges, tugs, and trains.
This train view also shows a view of Carquinez Strait to the west.
The drive itself is almost diserted. We only saw a couple of cars the entire day we spent in this area. It winds through oak-dotted hills.
This view to the west shows the wharf, whose access road marks the end of the maintained eastern portion of the Scenic Drive.
At this point, the views east to Martinez are narrow.
The end of the maintained roadway is clearly marked. However, we observed several walkers and bicycle riders proceding past this gate. In order to document any hazard, and determine the extent to which the road was impassable, we proceded, as well.
The first evidence of sliding showed damage which would make the road clearly a hazard to cars.
The sliding further along the drive was much more extensive, and has removed the entire paved surface. Of more concern, however, are the parallel cracks in the roadbed in other areas that could easily catch a bike rider and sent him flying.
The drive, when reopened to recreation, will offer stunning views.
We enjoyed this view toward the village of Port Costa. This village makes an interesting side trip.
The views which opened up to the east included Mt. Diablo.
This stretch of Scenic Drive ends near a industrial facility which makes decorative masonry.
The conveyor belts and equipment make for interesting views. The Drive is closed beyond this facility. See description of the Closed Portion of the Scenic Drive above for an explanation.